breast feeding past one year

Most organizations recommend breast feeding for at least the first year of life. Meaning minimum. But do most of you think you should continue to breast feed afterwards? I think if a mother chooses to breast feed as long as they can that's great and who cares? But my husband thinks after a year I should stop because he doesn't think there are significant enough benefits to breast feeding longer. Also he thinks after a certain point some women do it just to have bonding time they aren't ready to give up, which he doesn't see as a problem but just thinks its kinda silly. What do you all think? Is breast feeding longer than a year a great benefit to baby, or more of a relaxation and bonding technique for mom?

Most organizations recommend breast feeding for at least the first year of life. Meaning minimum. But do most of you think you should continue to breast feed afterwards? I think if a mother chooses to breast feed as long as they can that's great and who cares? But my husband thinks after a year I should stop because he doesn't think there are significant enough benefits to breast feeding longer. Also he thinks after a certain point some women do it just to have bonding time they aren't ready to give up, which he doesn't see as a problem but just thinks its kinda silly. What do you all think? Is breast feeding longer than a year a great benefit to baby, or more of a relaxation and bonding technique for mom?

Actually-the world health organization recommends breastfeeding until LO is at least 2 and THEN as long as mom and baby want to. It's still beneficial- especially for brain development. I believe many cancer patients actually consume breastmilk to help slow the spread of cancer. So I would say there are numerous benefits, probably beyond what we even know/recognize. I nurse my 17 month old and am a pregnant, SAHM with no family (sitters/relief) in the area and my husband works & attends class from 8-8 and also has to study when he is home. So I can definitely tell you this is all for my baby....no way in hell we need more bonding time. Lol. Don't get me wrong, I love my little man and like spending time with him but my first thought after changing a diaper, feeding him, chasing him around, playing, and then changing him again isn't 'oh honey let's have a snuggle while you suckle on my tender breasts.'. ;)

Actually-the world health organization recommends breastfeeding until LO is at least 2 and THEN as long as mom and baby want to. It's still beneficial- especially for brain development. I believe many cancer patients actually consume breastmilk to help slow the spread of cancer. So I would say there are numerous benefits, probably beyond what we even know/recognize. I nurse my 17 month old and am a pregnant, SAHM with no family (sitters/relief) in the area and my husband works & attends class from 8-8 and also has to study when he is home. So I can definitely tell you this is all for my baby....no way in hell we need more bonding time. Lol. Don't get me wrong, I love my little man and like spending time with him but my first thought after changing a diaper, feeding him, chasing him around, playing, and then changing him again isn't 'oh honey let's have a snuggle while you suckle on my tender breasts.'. ;)

I, personally, have no plans on breastfeeding longer than a year. I'm actually not sure that I am going to go quite that long. But I wouldn't think it was weird if other women wanted to breastfeed longer. It's when the child is reaching the three or four year stage and still breastfeeding that I think your child is okay getting cow milk and solid foods.

Edit: I am not saying that they don't feed their kids these things are just breastfeeding, I know that is not true. I know it's often a once in a while type situation when you're still breastfeeding at ages 3 or 4.

I, personally, have no plans on breastfeeding longer than a year. I'm actually not sure that I am going to go quite that long. But I wouldn't think it was weird if other women wanted to breastfeed longer. It's when the child is reaching the three or four year stage and still breastfeeding that I think your child is okay getting cow milk and solid foods.

Edit: I am not saying that they don't feed their kids these things are just breastfeeding, I know that is not true. I know it's often a once in a while type situation when you're still breastfeeding at ages 3 or 4.

Long term benefits directly correlate to how long you breastfeed. Risk of cancer goes down more the longer you breastfeed, etc. My dd is almost 1 and she shows no signs of stopping so we will go as long as she wants (behind closed doors though, I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable by seeing me feed my baby)

Long term benefits directly correlate to how long you breastfeed. Risk of cancer goes down more the longer you breastfeed, etc. My dd is almost 1 and she shows no signs of stopping so we will go as long as she wants (behind closed doors though, I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable by seeing me feed my baby)

Btw- my husband really wanted me to nurse but thought nursing past a year or two was weird. As the year approached he changed his view. Heck- I thought 'good for those women I could never it's just too awkward...' But here we are :-)

Btw- my husband really wanted me to nurse but thought nursing past a year or two was weird. As the year approached he changed his view. Heck- I thought 'good for those women I could never it's just too awkward...' But here we are :-)

My goal for BFing was always a year, bc at that point babies can switch to milk and don't need formula, also they start walking and talking around that time. My DH wanted me to BF longer, I was not inclined to myself. I did some looking into it and the best I could tell was there are still benefits to nursing past one year but not nearly as many. The only ones they say are a little better immunity and nutrition. I chose to Nurse my DD's longer than I'd planned (18 mos) bc that was what felt like the right time to quit. My kids were very petite and small and got their teeth much later than most kids. With only a few teeth I didn't feel comfortable giving them as many solid foods so I felt like BFing was still important for them. Another reason I've heard people quit at a year is bc at this point the baby starts to associate nursing with comfort and it's about more than food, they get more attached and have a harder time stopping later. I didn't find that to be an issue, I simply cut it out gradually and used distractions or substituted something else for comfort. I personally didn't find BFing a practical thing to use for comfort. I'm all for nutrition and healthy development, but for comfort I felt there were better options. After the age of one or around then when my babies got hurt, tired or sad they would kinda whine to nurse, or at times try to pull up or on my shirt. I knew they weren't hungry and just wanted to use me as a pacifier. That and then they'd nurse one minute and perk out the next, then nursed, etc.... I don't get the emotional benefit to nursing, I felt like hugging, snuggling and kissing were better for that. To me nursing almost got in the way of that after a time bc LO was so focused on getting the boob they weren't comforted just by me. That's the point I started to cut out the nursing. This is just my opinion, I don't see anything wrong with BFing longer, for me that felt like the right time.

My goal for BFing was always a year, bc at that point babies can switch to milk and don't need formula, also they start walking and talking around that time. My DH wanted me to BF longer, I was not inclined to myself. I did some looking into it and the best I could tell was there are still benefits to nursing past one year but not nearly as many. The only ones they say are a little better immunity and nutrition. I chose to Nurse my DD's longer than I'd planned (18 mos) bc that was what felt like the right time to quit. My kids were very petite and small and got their teeth much later than most kids. With only a few teeth I didn't feel comfortable giving them as many solid foods so I felt like BFing was still important for them. Another reason I've heard people quit at a year is bc at this point the baby starts to associate nursing with comfort and it's about more than food, they get more attached and have a harder time stopping later. I didn't find that to be an issue, I simply cut it out gradually and used distractions or substituted something else for comfort. I personally didn't find BFing a practical thing to use for comfort. I'm all for nutrition and healthy development, but for comfort I felt there were better options. After the age of one or around then when my babies got hurt, tired or sad they would kinda whine to nurse, or at times try to pull up or on my shirt. I knew they weren't hungry and just wanted to use me as a pacifier. That and then they'd nurse one minute and perk out the next, then nursed, etc.... I don't get the emotional benefit to nursing, I felt like hugging, snuggling and kissing were better for that. To me nursing almost got in the way of that after a time bc LO was so focused on getting the boob they weren't comforted just by me. That's the point I started to cut out the nursing. This is just my opinion, I don't see anything wrong with BFing longer, for me that felt like the right time.

You do know that even at 3 or 4 years old they are also eating table food and aren't nursing every 2 hours. I hate when people say they should be eating "normal" food by then. They ARE with breastmilk also.

You do know that even at 3 or 4 years old they are also eating table food and aren't nursing every 2 hours. I hate when people say they should be eating "normal" food by then. They ARE with breastmilk also.

Aren't there studies that show that breastmilk becomes MORE beneficial after the first year? I can't remember. I would have loved to go past a year but DD started refusing the day I got pregnant again. And DH would have had no say in the matter, he supports whatever I decide when it comes to breastfeeding.

Aren't there studies that show that breastmilk becomes MORE beneficial after the first year? I can't remember. I would have loved to go past a year but DD started refusing the day I got pregnant again. And DH would have had no say in the matter, he supports whatever I decide when it comes to breastfeeding.

For me it was, not saying for everyone. I really wasn't wanting to much past a year, but at a year my DD's had less than 4 teeth, just in the front middle. Since I didn't give them as much 'chewable' table foods I felt like I needed to nurse longer. I think when kids start eating and drinking table foods a lot of them cut back on nursing on their own and some just stop. It's not a reason so much as a natural progression in my mind, kinda when they are inclined to quit. As far as talking and walking it's just my thing. It's weird to me to talk to my daughter in sentences and have her nurse at the same time. Also difficult in public to have an argument about not nursing. And as far as walking when they get busier and are running around playing more they are less inclined to sit still and nurse. Those were some of the things that made me feel my girls wee ready to quit.

For me it was, not saying for everyone. I really wasn't wanting to much past a year, but at a year my DD's had less than 4 teeth, just in the front middle. Since I didn't give them as much 'chewable' table foods I felt like I needed to nurse longer. I think when kids start eating and drinking table foods a lot of them cut back on nursing on their own and some just stop. It's not a reason so much as a natural progression in my mind, kinda when they are inclined to quit. As far as talking and walking it's just my thing. It's weird to me to talk to my daughter in sentences and have her nurse at the same time. Also difficult in public to have an argument about not nursing. And as far as walking when they get busier and are running around playing more they are less inclined to sit still and nurse. Those were some of the things that made me feel my girls wee ready to quit.

I think it's a benefit and bonding. When you make it to a year, you realize they are still just a baby, and if it's all going fine, there isn't a major reason to stop then if you don't want to. I'm weaning my daughter now. We're down to one feeding. She'd love to keep going, but I'm ready to be done for hormonal reasons. She's almost 20 months. My first weaned himself at 16 months, so it's a new thing to me to lead the weaning.

I think it's a benefit and bonding. When you make it to a year, you realize they are still just a baby, and if it's all going fine, there isn't a major reason to stop then if you don't want to. I'm weaning my daughter now. We're down to one feeding. She'd love to keep going, but I'm ready to be done for hormonal reasons. She's almost 20 months. My first weaned himself at 16 months, so it's a new thing to me to lead the weaning.

I say breastfeed until the baby gets teeth. Once that happens, pump. I have a friend that breastfeed her 3.5 year old. It's disgusting! At what age does breastfeeding start resemble foreplay?! I mean c'mon!!

I say breastfeed until the baby gets teeth. Once that happens, pump. I have a friend that breastfeed her 3.5 year old. It's disgusting! At what age does breastfeeding start resemble foreplay?! I mean c'mon!!

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, or in place of therapy or medical care. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here